With all of us may the Force be, and may the peace of this temple be ours, a place open to thought and speech, a realm of mutual respect, and a haven of shared noble purpose. Let us take these seats together, with no one above the others. May we work together, free from the restraints of ego and jealousy, at this gathering and all others to come.

—Jedi Council Members speaking the traditional oath during the Gathering, Star Wars Republic 13: Emissaries to Malastare, Part 1

The High Council was a group of twelve wise and powerful Jedi Masters who were elected to guide the Jedi Order as well as to serve as an advisory body for the Supreme Chancellor. The Council was made up of five lifetime members, four long-term members, and three limited-term members. This organizational structure had evolved from the earlier assemblies of Jedi Masters, and during the Great Hyperspace War may have been nothing more than an "inner circle" within the assembly. The Council originally had no set meeting place, and met irregularly on planets such as Ossus, Alderaan, and Chandrila. With the relocation of the Order from Ossus to Coruscant, the Council was permanently established on that world.

The members of the Jedi Council alone chose promising Jedi to join them. No outside body attempted to appoint a member to the Council against its wishes until the Clone Wars, when Supreme Chancellor Palpatine appointed Anakin Skywalker to the Council.

When the Tarisian Jedi Council failed in capturing one of their charges "responsible" for the death of his classmates they met with the group and separated them. Unbeknownst to Vrook Lamar and his colleagues, the group was part of a secret society within the Order. Their leader, Lucien Draay was later given a seat on the Council on Haazen's as well as Masters Lamar and Tokare's recommendations. While Haazen's reason for having Lucien appointed to High Council was so the Covenant could move more freely in the Order and to strengthen his resolve to prevent the return of the Sith, Vandar and Vrook's was so they could learn the truth behind Tarisian Padawan massacre. Soon after, another of the Tarisian Masters, Xamar confessed the truth of the Padawan massacre and the existence of the Covenant in exchange, the Covenant's founder, Krynda Draay was to be given full immunity. Though the Council was skeptical, they all agreed on Krynda's importance to the Order and had Zayne's name cleared. The Council had ordered half the Jedi on Coruscant to assault the Draay Estate to take down the Covenant. In the following events of Vindication, the Republic and the Council both agreed to cover it up as a Mandalorian terror attack, which exonerating Zayne and his associate Marn Hierogryph.

To the dismay of several more outspoken members of the Order, the Council preached patience and restraint against the Mandalorian threat to the Republic, and fearing the danger of Jedi cabals, urging other Jedi not to follow the example of Revan and Alek Squinquargesimus, who impetuously went off to fight the invaders. The Council ultimately sanctioned the Revanchists' actions due to some of the Masters experiencing a vision of the Mandalorians massacring the people of Cathar, a great example of their brutality. The Council later decided on the fate of the only Jedi participant of the war who returned to face their judgment—the Jedi Exile. Nearly unanimously they decided to excommunicate her from the Order, with Atris pushing for a harsher penalty.

In the ensuing Jedi Civil War, the Council dispersed, and their members hid throughout the galaxy. When Sith LordDarth Traya, who was responsible for the elimination of most of the old Council, was defeated by the Exile on Malachor V, the Jedi High Council was re-established. It was at this time that some of the Exile's companions, who had received basic Jedi and Force training from her during their adventures, eventually became Jedi Masters and rebuilt the Council; Mical at least was known to take a seat on the august body.[citation needed]

The Jedi Council continued to preside over the Jedi Order during the Great Galactic War, however six Masters of the Council were killed during the disastrous Sacking of Coruscant. Following this, the Council had the Order retreat to Tython.

With the passage of time any of the long- or limited-term members could be elevated to another position within the Council, increasing the length of time served. When a lifetime member died, a long-term councilor typically succeeded them.

Ten years later, the roster had changed slightly. In the decade of unrest, Yaddle and Yarael Poof had both died and were replaced by Shaak Ti and Coleman Trebor; though the expected duration of their terms has not been identified. The council still consisted of the same lifetime members, but which of the others had changed serving terms is unknown. Along with Yoda, Windu, and Koon, Ki-Adi-Mundi was considered one of the four main councilors; often the Jedi spoken to directly. Masters Yoda and Windu in particular were considered the two senior members of the Council; though it is unclear what the role of being one of the two senior members entailed, Windu demonstrated the authority to suspend lower ranking members of the Council, as he did to Master Billaba during the Clone Wars.

The Battle of Geonosis was a bad battle for the Jedi. Among the 200 that died were Eeth Koth as he was killed by the explosion of his gunship and was replaced by Agen Kolar, Coleman Trebor was killed by Jango Fett when Coleman attempted to confront Count Dooku and was replaced by Kit Fisto.

As the Clone Wars passed many councilors died. Depa Billaba fell to the dark side and was replaced by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Adi Gallia was killed by General Grievous during the Clone Wars and was replaced by her cousin Stass Allie, Oppo Rancisis was killed by Dark Jedi Sora Bulq on the planet of Saleucami and was replaced by Coleman Kcaj and Even Piell was no longer on the Council. It should be noted that as this occurred, the Council seating arrangement seemed to become less formalized, with Shaak Ti and Saesee Tiin changing seats, just as Eeth Koth (seat 11) was replaced with Agen Kolar (seat 6) and Depa Billaba (12) was replaced by Obi-Wan Kenobi (5).

With only five of its members from the time of the reemergence of the Sith still alive, many Council members were temporary. A GranCouncil member and a purple-skinned Council member sat in 20 BBY as limited-term members as they specialized in certain matters. They would eventually leave the Council to be replaced by others.

With all that were dead, some did survive. Shaak Ti escaped Operation Knightfall, lived until the late years of the Empire, exiled herself to planet Felucia where she was training Force-sensitives for a confrontation with the Sith. She was later killed by Darth Vader's secret apprentice, Galen Marek. Nineteen years after the initial dissolution of the Council, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had exiled himself to Tatooine to watch over Anakin's son Luke, was killed onboard the Death Star by Darth Vader. Yoda died of age four years later on Dagobah after completing the training of Luke Skywalker. The death of the redeemed Anakin Skywalker days later onboard the Second Death Star saw the end of the last surviving member of the last High Council. Coleman Kcaj was most likely killed during Operation Knightfall due to the fact that he was known to be on Coruscant at the time of Anakin's initiation as a Council member.